Earth Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1

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Reviewed by: Joshua   //   Published: 4/20/2011

Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1 is not a soundtrack. It's a score. Pick your tragedy to put to the instrumental music: falling into an opiate induced coma with no way to be revived, trudging through a hot desert only to freeze to death when the sun sets, or sinking to the bottom of a murky pond, lungs filled with algae and sediment. These are just a few of the images invoked by the droning tones and ominous atmosphere Earth creates.

Sure, these are just one listener's thoughts, but Earth gives their audience time to develop their own scenes to accompany the depressing mood, lots and lots of time. The songs range from 8-20 minutes in length, and all trod along at a funeral's pace. Many will find this album boring, and sometimes it is, but there is a texture to this record that transcends conventional listening. Earth develops a terrestrial aura fitting of the band's moniker.

"Old Black" opens with a definite Western feel, twanging guitars that line the dusty trail. Slow sizzling hi-hats and snare drum are prominent on tracks "Father Midnight" and "Hell's Winter," while the haunting cello creates long notes that stretch on for eternity. "Descent to the Zenith" features a plucked guitar melody more fluid than waves on a desolate shoreline. The 20-minute title track sounds like the end of the world. Not the apocalypse itself, but the moments after the dust settles and the swirling notes of bass, cello and guitar blanket the extinguished planet. Every track is very dramatic by being subdued and minimal. Some will deem it monotonous; I find it soothing. Pure Moods for metalheads.

Bottom Line: Looking forward to the sequel.

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